Improved carpet-stretcher and tack-holder



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDK. ASHLEY, OF NEV YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVED CARPET-STRETCHER AND TACK-HOLDER.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 58,751, dated October 16, 1866.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK ASHLEY, ot'the city, county, and State ofNew York, have invented a new and Improved Combined Oarpet-Stretcher and Tack-Holder; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof', which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this speciiica-tion.

The present invention relates to an eX- tremely novel and useful implement for the laying down and tacking of carpets and other coverings used for the iioors ot rooms in dwelling-houses and other private and public buildings; and it consists otl a carpet-stretcher and tack-holder combined in one and the same implement, by means ot' which the stretching and the tacking down ot' carpets or other similarcoverings for iioors can be accomplished with ease and dispatch and with the utmost convenience.

In accompanying plate of drawings my combined carpet-stretcher and tack-holder is i1lustrated- Figure l being a plan or top view; Fig. 2, a section taken in the line x w, Fig. l.

Ain the drawings represents the carpetstretcher, which, in the present instance, consists of a bent bar or plate, B, ot metal, that at one end, O, is secured in ahandle, D, and at the other is made with a series of sharp prongs or teeth, a, which, when the stretcher is used, engage with the carpet, and thus, by properly bringing it to bear upon it, enables it to be stretched or pulled to the requisite degree of tension.

To and upon the upper side, E,of the bar B, and near to its pronged end, an arm, F, is hung, turning upon a t'ulcrum or center-pin, b, of the bar, and extending in the direction ot' its length. One end, G, of this arm forms one jaw of the holder for a tack, the other jaw, H, being formed by cutting out a portion of the pronged end of the bar B.

The jaw Gr ofthe holder is held closed upon the other jaw, H, by means of a spiral spring, I, inserted in the notch J of the rear end of the arm F, which spring is confined between the end of such notch and a iixed lug or stud, K,

upon the top of the bar, as plainly shown in Fig. l of the drawings.

The two jaws of the holder are both similarly notched at the same points c, forming a squareshaped aperture, d, between the two to receive the pointed end of the tack, which by the action of the spiral spring I, hereinbefore referred to, is thus firmly held therein while the stretcher is being used for stretching a carpet or other Hoor-covering susceptible of being stretched, when, the carpet having been stretched to the proper' degree, such tack can be then driven, by means of a hammer or other suitable implement, through the carpet into the floor a sufcient distance to hold the carpet and yet allow the stretcher to be drawn or pulled oit' and thus released from the tack, after which the driving of the tack can be completed.

From the above it is plainly apparent that, by means of my improved combined carpetstretcher and tack-holder, the labor necessary in the stretching and laying and tacking down ot' carpets and other similar coverings used for floors ot' rooms is greatly decreased, and the insertion of the tacks in the carpet ren dered extremely easy and convenient, this implement also enabling the tacks to be driven into the carpet and door much nearer or closer to the mop-board of the room than has hereL tot'ore been possible, and without the least dangerof injuring or detacing it 5 and furthermore, with it the tacks can be driven in the carpet at such points ot the same as are at the utmost degree of tension from the action ot the stretcher thereon, as is obvious without any further explanation.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-

rIhe device for the purpose specified, con@ sisting of the toothed bar B and lthe springarm F, wit-h its notched end Gr bearing against the inner side ofthe notched jaw H of the bar B, and operating in the manner and for the purpose described.

The above specification ot" my invention signed by me this 27th day of April, 1866.

FREDK. ASHLEY.

Witnesses:

ALBERT W. BROWN,- J AMES A. SERVICE. 

